Seeing this unbelieveable movie once was not enough. I ventured back to Las Vegas, 4 hr drive each way, with Traci, Allan & Matt to view Serenity. I cannot emphasize to you all enough how much I enjoyed this movie and I encourage you all to give this movie a chance when it is released on September 30, 2005. Cancelled TV shows aren't typically made into movies but through the love of the people who made it and the people who watched it, a dream has been realized. Please, I implore you all, go see Serenity when it debuts. Give the movie a chance and I guarantee you will discover something wondrous, joyful and special. Okay, I guess that's plenty of chat for now (more frequent pleas for you all to see the movie will come as the release date approaches).
Here are a few pictures from the journey. Unfortunately, no stars this time so all you get are a few pics of us in Vegas.
The beautiful Bellagio hotel in the foreground and a lovely Nevada sky at dusk in the background. Ah...Las Vegas. Side note: It was about 100+ degrees out there as well.
What is a trip to Las Vegas without partaking in one of the many buffets available? We chose the Spice Market Buffet at the Aladdin hotel (voted #1 buffet in Vegas by some buffet rating people). It did not disappoint. After working our way through the many different foods to choose from (3 plates and a handful of desserts) we were literally stuffed.
Traci & I did our very best to work through as much food as we could. I'm certain that we both ate more than enough to justify the $25 price of admission and to satisfy our craving for quality eats. Good times, good times!
Thank you very much to Matt & Allan for coming along. Special thanks to Traci (& Snickersnee) for your presence and the transportation. Lesson of the day: Go see Serenity!!!
Here I am, on the eve of my flight home, looking back on all the good times that have been had over the semester. Three specific groups of people have made my past few days here particularly enjoyable. These people are also the people who I will miss the most while I am thousands of miles away in the southern hemisphere, freezing my butt off. My hats off to each and every one of you for being a part of my life here at school. Here are a few quick pics:
SAIT
The first message of thanks goes to the guys from the Student Affairs Information Technology lab (where I have been working the past 2 years). Allan, Brenton & I came on board at the same time last year as the three newbies. Now we're the seasoned veterans and it's really the comaraderie that keeps me coming in to work everyday (no matter how late I am). We've had plenty of good times this past year, particularly our trip to Vegas to see Serenity (we're pictured above, in the theater just prior to the screening). I bet it'll be lonely in the lab w/o yours truly, but I know you guys will make it through the semester (just keep newbie Matt away from the 120 GB drives and you'll be fine).
Paris People
We all started last summer as an odd assortment of casual acquaintances and strangers. After returning from an awesome adventure in Paris, we all seemed like old friends. Getting to know everyone was a definite highlight of the trip and getting together throughout the semester has allowed us all to maintain our friendships. Kim's party (pics above: 1- Me & Brad, 2-Me, Kim, A Lo) & our dinner trip to El Cholo (thanks to Brad for the ride & colorful commentary, Kim for letting us go to El Cholo even though she had lunch there and Laura for coming along as well) were a lot of fun and it'll definitely be weird not seeing a lot of you on a daily basis after spending the better part of the last several months together.
Freshman Friends
We've been slacking really badly on the staying in touch part since freshman year but I think we've recently done a lot to rekindle the good feeling of fellowship that we had. Above: Ryan, Cat, Me & Claudia partake in some tasty El Cholo's (hey, you can't argue w/50% off for SC students). Even though we don't get together for daily dinners at EVK (about as tasty as cardboard) or Parkside fridays or even movie nights in the dorm, being with you guys never gets old and we'll find ways to spend time together next year to make our last year together as fun (or more fun -> MLK in LV?) than our first year together.
So, once again, I'd like to thank every one of you who I've mentioned specifically or if you're a "member" (so to speak) of the above groups. Thank you very much for all the memories, the friendship and also for all the times that have yet to come. Take care of yourselves. I'll be sure to keep in touch while I'm away and Good Bye!
It really wasn't enough to have just one NZ music experience in LA this semester. Tonight, I had the fortune of catching Goldenhorse play live at the Mint to bring the tally up to TWO in the past 3 months (which virtually doubles the number of NZ acts I've ever seen before 2005). To be honest, as much as I love Brooke and her performance in LA (trust me, I LOVED that show), I liked the Mint as a venue a lot more than I liked the Hotel Cafe (roomier w/o compromising intimacy or character) and I felt the show was a little more upbeat (as much a result of Kirsten's animated performance as the livelier style of music). Here are a couple pics from the show for yawl to check out.
Goldenhorse (L->R: Geoff, Kirsten, Ben C, Vince [who is between the Bens] & Ben K) played a great, highly energetic set that the audience responded well to. It was awesome to finally hear them play live well over 2 years since I first heard them on a CD player driving through the streets of Auckland (thanks Lianne).
Don't adjust your eyes, the photo is blurry (I blame the photo taker's inability to prefocus the camera). But, yeah, I was lucky enough to also get to spend some time chatting with a few of the band members (L->R: Ben C, Ben K, Kirsten, Me & Vince...Geoff was putting equipment away I think). Kirsten, Ben (King - guy with the hat) and Vince were particularly friendly. Too bad about the picture but the experience was worthwhile enough.
Not too much more can be said about the past couple nights. I've had an unbelievable time and life's just been great (exams aside). Home soon, other home not too long after. This looks like an exciting year...
AMAZING MOVIE!!! Everyone must go see it when it is released. It is currently 5:54 in the AM and I still can't get over road trippin' to Las Vegas in order to see this movie in all it's glory. To add to the joy of seeing the film, we also scored free key chains, a free button and (the absolute kicker) got to meet Summer Glau & Joss Whedon. This trip was awesome. Gotta thank Allan & Brenton for the good memories. That was special stuff my friends. Pics to come when: 1) I am more awake... 2) I develop the film camera that we used.
*edit @ 5:11 in the PM*Here are the highly-anticipated pics from our awesome adventure. Enjoy!
Brenton, Allan, Myself enjoying our In & Out 3x3's (Allan wussed out w/a double-double). Tasty stuff. We ate while waiting in line for the theater peeps to let us in. If you notice, we've all got Serenity buttons (mine isn't visible but they're on our shirts) courtesy of a fellow hard-core Browncoat. Shiny!
After what was a ridiculously good movie (everyone has to go and see this when it comes out in September...the 30th to be particular), Summer Glau (River) & Joss Whedon (the show's creator) both came out for a signing session. Both seem like genuinely wonderful people. Summer was very gracious for the support of the fans and Joss was his usually witty self (full of boyish charm...er...child-like enthusiasm).
Seeing the movie almost 5 months before anyone else was the highlight of the evening. This photo was the cherry on top. Allan, Brenton, Myself and the lovely and talented Summer Glau (my apologies, no accompanying photos of her graceful feet - inside joke). We would've gotten a similar pic w/Joss if we could've, but we were shoo-ed away by the PR and security people who wanted to keep the line moving as quickly as possible.
And here, my friends, is the loot. An unforgettable trip and worth every minute. I'm on a such a high now that it'll be hard to come back down to Earth for the 2 finals I have on monday. Wish me luck. On that note, have an amazing weekend and I'll catch you folks later. CAN'T STOP THE SIGNAL!!!
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